Imagine being able to wake up and see the clock, play sports, drive a car or go to a movie without glasses or contacts. This new freedom is possible with Laser Vision Correction. Laser Vision Correction is the most technologically advanced method in the world for correcting your vision. It has been performed since 1987 and has been shown to produce very predictable, stable results. The excimer laser uses a cool beam of light to gently reshape the front surface of the eye, the cornea. The laser is so accurate that it can remove 39 millionths of an inch of tissue in 12 billionths of a second without damaging surrounding cells.

Who is a candidate?
Good candidates include people who wear corrective lenses for nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. You must be 18 years of age and have had no change in prescription in 12-18 months. People with certain eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts or corneal problems would not be candidates. Some general medical conditions may also prevent you from having laser vision correction. A general eye exam is the best way to determine whether or not you are a candidate.

The Procedure
LASIK (laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis) is a painless outpatient procedure which takes about ten minutes per eye to perform. Only topical anesthetic eye drops are used, no injection or general anesthesia is given. Usually both eyes are treated the same visit. An instrument called a microkeratome is used to lift a thin layer of the cornea called the flap which is temporarily folded back. The laser then reshapes the cornea in less than 60 seconds. The flap is then replaced and self heals. Most people see well immediately but some fluctuation and fuzziness are normal. Some people report a mild discomfort for the first day. Eye drops are used for one week and clear shields are worn at night for one week.

PRK (photorefactive keratectomy) uses the same laser but the treatment is performed on the very front surface of the cornea and no flap is created. This requires gently removing the surface epithelium. The epithelial layer will regenerate within three days with the aid of a contact lens placed on the eye after surgery. Drops are used for three months after the procedure and the best vision may not be noticed for up to 1-3 months. While still a very effective procedure, PRK is not as widely performed as LASIK due to the increased healing time.

Expectations
The goal of laser vision correction is to reduce the dependence on glasses or contacts. Most people achieve 20/20 vision or within 1-2 lines of 20/20 on the eye chart and can pass a driving test. It is important to understand that the goal is not 20/20 vision but functional vision. A small percentage of people may require a thin pair of glasses for night driving. Patients over 40 can expect to need reading glasses after LASIK because it does not correct a condition called presbyopia. Some people may require a touch up procedure after three months to fine tune the initial surgery to get the best result. The risk of a serious complication is less than one percent and no cases of blindness have been reported after one million procedures worldwide. At our office we strive to give you the best vision possible in the safest manner.